| January 13, 2006 Patriot Act Redux by Katy Parrish, insurgent49 Why do we really need a PATRIOT act? Mr. Bush has made it perfectly clear that he needs no authority to spy on Americans by ignoring the FISA courts legitimized by this act. Not only can he steal two elections and initiate an illegal invasion of Iraq, he can spy on Americans while we the people still do nothing. So why are the “neocons” making an effort to reauthorize the PATRIOT Act? Is it to make Americans feel more comfortable when Big Brother arrives to stomp on our faces? Today, we have 401 city resolutions and ordinances and seven state resolutions that have said NO to this egregious assault to our civil liberties. Alaska was the third state to do so. These three states represent 62,333,132 people who have said they will not allow their civil liberties to be sacrificed in order to wage a war on terror. In case you don’t know, this “war on terror” was constructed by a select group of people who have more interest in lining their pockets with oil and defense profits than securing world peace. Read Rebuilding America’s Defenses, published by the Project for the New American Century and see for yourself who signed the publication. According to this publication, the select group includes Dick Cheney, Paul Wolfowitz, Jeb Bush, and Donald Rumsfeld to name a few. “George W.” is conspicuously missing from this list of who’s who. Pay special attention to pages 51 and 52, where it notes that, in order to convince the country that we should be the global military force, the U.S. will have to experience another Pearl Harbor-like event. Then notice that this was published a full year prior to 9/11. These guys don’t need the PATRIOT Act to spy – they already have their agenda to do so. By the way, have you sent flowers to Lisa Murkowski yet for her courageous stand on December 16th? If not, please do. Or at least call her to say thank you. She is one of the few senators who took the time to seriously address the flaws in this legislation. And to think she did this fully acknowledging that President Bush and Dick Cheney did major campaigning for her here in Alaska. That takes some nerve. You rock, Lisa! Recently, I was talking to a friend about this issue. He went off and said, “Why are Americans so surprised about domestic spying? The government has been spying on citizens for decades.” He’s right. What is so fucking new? The government has more secrets then they have truth. Why are we so outraged when their invasion of our civil rights comes to light? My answer is that we hold dear to our hearts that we live in a democracy, and when we find out the government is spying on us, it goes against every thread of hope that we truly live in a free society. Are we really living in a democracy today? I think not. A fascist state more accurately describes our current situation. Corporations rule our elected officials and the freedom of our press. This phenomenon feeds the pockets of the greedy and keeps most of our fellow citizens enslaved, too consumed and afraid to really think about what is really happening. If they do awaken, many people experience a hopeless feeling that they can’t do anything to really affect change, especially considering the last presidential election. This seduces them into a permanent state of apathy. That is why I cling to a quote from St. Augustine, who said, “Hope has two beautiful daughters, anger and courage. Anger at the way things are and courage to change them.” I believe that in order to realize the courage of hope, one must experience the anger of hope. So, I hope this piece pisses you off. I hope your anger helps you find the courage to talk to friends, family and even strangers about the critical issues facing our nation. I hope this piece inspires you to be an involved citizen, and that it inspires you to take the time to research the PATRIOT Act, Project for New American Century and look at yourself in the mirror and believe in the beauty of your dreams. Ultimately, I hope you take the time to call Lisa, Don and Ted to let them know how you feel. We’ve got one month to kill the PATRIOT Act for good. Will you help us to put it to rest? Or, will you be one of the lemmings that run off of the cliff? Katy Parrish is a freelance writer and media activist who can be reached at takebackthemedia@hotmail.com. |
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2005
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Reserved. in-sur-gent (in sur'jent), n. 1. a member of a group which revolts against the policies of its leadership. |
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